§ 72. Sir JAMES DUNCAN MILLARasked the Minister of Health whether he 1114 can state the proposals which have been made by the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund for the amendment of the present scheme of administration of the fund?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe proposals for the amendment of the scheme for the administration of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund are the subject of negotiations which are still proceeding between the governing body of the fund and the several Government Departments concerned. In these circumstances, my right hon. Friend does not think it desirable at this stage to add anything to the information given to my hon. and learned Friend on this subject on the 5th instant.
§ Sir J. DUNCAN MILLARThe Members representing seaboard divisions have been invited to make a suggestion with regard to an alteration in the present scheme, and how can Members do so unless they are put in possession of the main features of the scheme? Will the Parliamentary Secretary undertake to discuss the matter with Members representing such constituencies
§ Mr. BROWNI should be very glad to discuss representations made by my hon. and learned Friend and other hon. Members, but the points which he has raised have all been put before the authorities concerned.
§ 73 and 74. Sir J. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Minister of Health (1) if he can state the number of applications for pensions from fishermen which are at present before the governing body of the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund; and whether steps will be taken to deal with the applications of qualified applicants under the existing scheme;
(2) if he can state, separately, the number of pensions awarded to seamen and fishermen, respectively, from the Royal Seamen's Pension Fund at each period of award 'as from 1st January, 1928, down to and including the last period of award in 1932; the number of applications for pensions from seamen and fishermen, respectively, before the governing body at each such period; and the total number of pensions awarded, respectively, to seamen and fishermen since the institution of the fund?
§ Mr. E. BROWNMy right hon. Friend has asked the governing body of the 1115 Royal Seamen's Pension Fund to furnish the desired particulars, but their reply is not yet to hand. He will communicate with my hon. and learned Friend as soon as the reply is received.
§ Sir DUNCAN MILLARCan the Parliamentary Secretary reply to the second part of Question 73 as to whether steps will be taken to deal with the applications of qualified applicants under the existing scheme, seeing that during the present year 431 pensions were given to seamen and only 28 to fishermen?
§ Mr. BROWNMy hon. and learned Friend knows that there are many applications, and that causes delay in answering his questions.
§ Sir J. DUNCAN MILLARWill the hon. Member give an undertaking that pensions for fishermen will not be postponed or delayed in cases where the applicants are qualified?
§ Mr. BROWNI would point out that the governing body has submitted proposals for amending the scheme for the administration of benefits whereby they will he settled on a somewhat lower scale in respect of years which have not been recorded, or cannot be clearly proved, rather than on the length of actual sea service.